Automatic turn-table.



J. H. WITTMANN.

AUTOMATICTURN TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1911.

Patented June 17, 1913.

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J. H.. WITTMANN. AUTOMATIC TURN TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED .TAN,16, 1911.

1,065,091 Patented June 17, 1913.

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J. H. WITTMANN.

AUTOMATIC TURN TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1911.

Patented June 17, 1913.

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JOSEPH H. WITTMANN, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO PITLESS AUTOTURNTABLE COMPANY, OF MISSOURI.

AUTOBTATIC TURN-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 17, 1913.

Application filed January 16, 1911. Serial No. 602,985.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josnrrr H. Vrrr- MANN, acitizen of the United States, residing at- Kansas City, in the county ofJackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Turn-Tables, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic turntables, and myobject is to provide a novel turntable of this character which may beset in motion by a car or other vehicle running thereon.

While the accompanying drawings show my turntable arranged especiallyfor motor cars and like vehicles I do not limit myself to thisparticular use, as by making slight changes in the turntable, it may bereadily adapted to railway cars, locomotives, etc.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, references will nowbe made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of my improved turntable. Fig. 2 is a sectionon line IIII of Fig. 1, showing a motor and gearing for rotating theturntable. Fig. 3 is a broken side elevation of one end of the turntable and an element for alternately opening two circuit-breakersemployed in carrying out the invention. Figs. l and 5 are broken sideand plan views, respectively, of one end of the turntable and certainparts carried thereby. Fig. 6 is a diagram of the electric circuitsemployed in carrying out the invention. Fig. 7 is a broken section online VII-VII of Fig. 1. Figs. 8 and 9 show the rotary and stationarymembers, respectively, of a contact employed in carrying out theinvention, the rotary member being inverted. Fig. 10 is a centralvertical section of said contact. Fig. 11 is a cross section on lineXIXI of Fig. 1. Fig. 12 is a broken cross section of the turntable online XII XII of Fig. 1., showing a brake to stop the turntable at anydesired point.

The turntable proper consists of a pair of runways 1, connected by acentrally-disposed skeleton frame 2, and mounted upon a plurality ofwheeledtrucks 8. To adapt the turntable to railway-cars or locomotivesit is only necessary to substitute a pair of rails for the runways 1.

41 designates an annular track upon which the trucks 3 travel, saidtrucks being prevented from leaving the track by a tubular king-bolt 5,extending down through the central portion of frame 2, and secured atits lower end to a base-plate 6, preferably embedded in concrete 7, inwhich the track 41 is also embedded. Accidental upward movement, ortipping of the turntable is prevented by a collar 8 fixed to king-bolt 5and arranged in a central recess 9 in the upper portion of frame 2.

10 designates a contact embodying permanently-engaging conductors andintermittently-engaging conductors, the former comprising part of amotor circuit, hereinafter described, and the latter part of a displaycircuit, hereinafter referred to. The permanently-engaging conductorsembody a centrally-disposed stationary conductor 11, an annularstationary conductor 12 surrounding conductor 11, but insulatedtherefrom, a rotary conductor 13 engaging conductor 11, and a rotaryconductor 1a engaging conductor 12. The intermittently-engagingconductors consist of a segmental conductor l5,integral with conductor12, and a plurality of rotary conductors 16, which engage conductor 15at each revolution. Conductors 11 and 12 are secured to an insulator 17,fixed to a stationary cup 18, and conductors 18, 141 and 16 are carriedby an insulator 1.9, fixed in cap 20, rotatably-mounted upon cup 18,which latter is fixed to and communicates with the upper end ofking-bolt 5.

Conductors 13, 141 and 1G consist, preferably, of balls, so that theymay roll, with but little friction, over conductors 11, 12 and 15,respectively, with which they are reliably forced into contact byexpansion springs 21, 22 and 23 arranged in caps 24-, 25 and 26, whichcarry the ball conductors 13, 14 and 16. Cap 20 is yieldingly held uponcup 18 by a pair of retractile springs 20, secured at their lower endsto frame 2, and at their upper ends to cup 20 through the intermediacyof screws 20 27 designates a motor for rotating the turntable. Saidmotor is in a circuit consisting of a wire 28, communicating with thepole of conductor 11, and one pole of motor 27, a wire 29 communicatingwith the opposite pole of motor 27 and a circuit-breaker, 30, a wire 31communicating with circuit-breaker 30 and a duplicate circuit-breaker32, a wire 33 communicating with circuit-breaker 32 and the pole ofconductor 14, a wire 34 communicating with the pole of conductor 12 andone pole of a source of current, such as dynamo 35, and a wire 36communicating with the other pole of dynamo 35 and the pole of conductor11.

37 designates a plurality of lamps for dis play purposes. Said lamps arein an intermittent circuit consisting of a wire 38 communicating withwire 28 and the poles of conductors 16, which engage, one at a time, thesegmental conductor 15, and thus intermittently close the circuit.

37 designates a plurality of lamps, also for display purposes. Saidlamps are in a constant circuit consisting of a wire 38 communicatingwith wire 28, and wire 33.

39 designates a conduit communicating with king-bolt 5 and embedded inthe concrete 7 for the protection of wires 34 and 36, communicating withthe poles of dynamo and the poles of conductors 12 and 11, respectively.

Motor 27 is carried by a bracket 40 projecting from one of therunways 1. The shaft of motor 27 is provided with a pinion 41intermeshing with a large gear wheel 42 (Fig. 2) mounted on a shaft 43,carrying a fixed pinion 44, which inter-meshes with internal teeth 45 inone of wheels 3, to drive the same and thus rotate the turntable. Shaft43 is journaled in the adjacent sides of bracket 40 and thewheeled-truck.

Circuit-breakers 30 and 32 are duplicates, and one is arranged near theterminal of one runway, while its companion is arranged near theopposite terminal of the other runway, as shown in Fig. 1. Eachcircuitbreaker (Figs. 4 and 5) consists of a conductor 46, having a pairof oppositely-disposed resilient contact terminals 47 and 48, aconductor 49 adapted to rock into engagement with either of terminals 47or 48, and a latch 50 carrying conductor 49 and pivotally-mounted upon ascrew 51 projecting from the adjacent side of the runway. The forwardend 52 of latch 50 overbalances its rear end and thus normally holdsconductor 49 in engagement with terminal 48 until raised to the neutralposition shown in Fig. 4, by an element 53, having sloping ends 54 and55, and a notch 56 to receive latch 52 and thus hold the turn-tablestationary. Latch 50 may also be thrown to the neutral position by a cam57, fixed upon a U-shaped rock-shaft 58 mounted in the upturned flangesof the runway and in the path of a vehicle running upon the turntable.The upper horizontal portion of crank-shaft 58 is provided with a roller59. Shaft 58 is normally held in the upright position shown in Fig. 4,by resilient means consisting of a spring 60 and a link 61, the formerof which is fixed at one end to a bracket 62, and the latter at itslower end to a collar 63, fixed to the end of shaft 58 opposite the cam57.

After switch A is thrown open, the turntable may be stopped at any pointin its rotation by a brake engaging track 4 and consisting of a shoe 64,a lever 65, fulcrumed at 66 and carrying shoe 64 at one end and acounterweight 67 at its opposite end to normally hold shoe 64 off ofrail 4, and a footlever 68 fulcrumed at 69 and provided with a cam-face70, engaging lever 65, and adapted to force the same downward to causeshoe 64 to frictionally engage track 4. The fulcrum bolts 66 and 69 arecarried by abracket 71 projecting from the adjacent runway and providedat its outer terminal with an eye 72. Lever 68 is also provided with aneye 73 adapted to be brought into coincidence with eye 72, so that bothmay receive the hasp of a padlock employed to lock the brake inoperative position to prevent unauthorized persons from operating theturntable.

A vehicle running upon the turntable in the direction indicated by arrowat Fig. 1, is brought to a standstill when one of the front wheelsengages roller 59 at the left side of the turntable, and the shaft 58,carrying said roller, is swung downward in the direction of arrow I)Fig. 4, to a horizontal position. This operation of shaft 58 causes cam57 to swing downward into engagement with the rear end of the adjacentlatch 50 and raise the forward end of the same out of notch Thismovement of latch 50 throws its respective conductor 49 into engagementwith the adjacent conductor 47 and thus completes the motor circuit. Themotor being thus energized r0- tates the turntable in the direction ofarrow 0 until the companion latch 50, at what was formerly the rightside of the turntable, rides upon element 53 which raises said latch andthrows its respective conductor 49 to neutral position between itsadjacent conductors 47 and 48, thereby interrupting the motor circuit.The momentum acquired by the turntable, however, will continue to turnthe same until the latch drops into notch 56 and thereby arrests furthermovement of the turntable. The turntable having now made a halfrevolution places the vehicle thereon in position to return in thedirection from which it came.

Vvhen it is desired to have the turntable rotate continually to exhibita vehicle thereon, the motor circuit is held closed. Lamps 37 and 3"having been strung upon the vehicle for decorative or advertisingpurposes, are illuminated by currents passing through wires 33 and 36respectively. As the turntable rotates the circuit wires 34 and 36 areprevented from becoming twisted, or wound around the king-bolt 5, by thestationary and rotary conductors of contact 10.

Having thus described my invention what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is:

1. In combination, a turntable, a motor for actuating the same, a latchto hold the turntable in position to receive a vehicle andvehicle-controlled means for actuating said motor permanently mountedthereon and geared thereto.

2. In combination, a turntable, an electric motor for actuating thesame, a motor circuit, and vehicle-controlled means for con trollingsaid circuit.

3. In combination, a turntable, an electric motor for actuating thesame, a motor circuit, circuit-breakers in said motor circuit, means atopposite ends of the turntable adapted to be alternately closed by avehicle running upon said turntable, and means alternately engaged bythe circuit-breakers to open the same to interrupt the motor circuit.

4. In combination, a turntable, an electric motor for actuating thesame, a motor circuit, circuit-breakers in said motor circuit, providedwith latches, said circuit-breakers being near opposite ends of theturntable and adapted to be alternately closed by a vehicle running uponsaid turntable, and an element alternately engaged by thecircuitbreakers to throw the same open to interrupt the motor circuit,said element being adjacent that end of the turntable most re mote fromthe approach thereto and provided with a notch to alternately receivethe circuit breaker latches and thus stop the turntable.

5. In combination, a turntable, an electric motor for actuating thesame, a motor circuit, circuit-breakers in said motor circuit, nearopposite ends of the turntable and provided with latches, an elementalternately engaged by said latches to open their respectivecircuit-breakers and stop the turntable, and means to disengage thelatches from said element and close the circuit-breakers.

0. In combination, a turntable, an electric motor for actuating thesame, a motor circuit, circuit-breakers in said motor circuit, nearopposite ends of the turntable and provided with latches, an elementalternately engaged by said latches to open their respectivecircuit-breakers and stop the turntable, and vehicle-controlled means atopposite ends of the turntable to disengage the latches from saidelement and close the circuit-breakers.

7. In combination, a turntable, an electric motor for actuating thesame, a motor cir- 'cuit, circuit-breakers in said motor circuit,

gage the latches from said element and close the circuit-breakers.

8. In combination, a turntable, an electric motor for actuating thesame, a motor circuit, circuit-breakers in said motor circuit, nearopposite ends of the turntable and provided with latches, an elementalternately engaged by said latches to open their respec tivecircuit-breakers and stop the turntable, and means including rock-shaftsto disengage the latches from said element and close thecircuit-breakers, and means to restore said rock-shafts to normalposition after each operation.

9. In combination, a turntable, an electric motor for actuating thesame, a motor circuit, circuit-breakers in said motor circuit, nearopposite ends of the turntable and provided with latches, meansalternately engaged by said latches to open the respectivecircuit-breakers and stop the turntable, cams to disengage the latchesfrom said means, and means to actuate said cams.

10. In combination, a turntable, an elec tric motor for actuating thesame, a motor circuit, circuit-breakers in said motor circuit, nearopposite ends of the turntable and provided with latches, meansalternately engaged by said latches to open the respectivecircuit-breakers and stop the turntable, cams to disengage the latchesfrom said means, means including rock-shafts to disengage the latchesfrom said means and close the circuitbreakers, and resilient means torestore said rock-shafts to normal position after each operation.

11. In combination, a turntable, an electric motor for actuating thesame, a motor circuit, circuit-breakers in said motor circuit nearopposite ends of the turntable and provided. with latches, meansalternately engaged by said latches to open their respectivecircuit-breakers and stop the turntable, links connected to thelast-mentioned means, and springs connected to said links to cooperatetherewith for restoring said lastmentioned means to normal positionafter each operation.

12. In combination, a wheeled-turntable, an electric motor carried bysaid turntable and geared to a wheel thereof to rotate the turntable andvehicle-controlled means for closing the motor circuit.

13. In combination, a turntable consisting of connected runways mountedupon wheels, an annular track traversed by said wheels, a motor carriedby said turntable and geared to a wheel thereof, a latch to hold theturntable in position to receive a vehicle and vehicle-controlled meanscarried by the turntable to control said motor and said latch.

14. In combination, a wheeledturntable, a kingbolt around which saidtable rot-ates, a contact on said king-bolt, embodying stationary androtary conductors, a motor carried by the turntable and geared theretoto rotate the same, and a motor circuit embodying the motor and saidcontact.

15. In combination, a Wheeled-turntable, a king-bolt around which saidtable rotates, a contact on said king-bolt embodying constantly-engagingconductors and intermittently-engaging conductors, circuit Wirescommunicating With the constantly-engag ing conductors and a source ofsupply, circuit Wires communicating With said constantly-engagingconductors and the motor, and a lamp-circuit communicating With themotor circuit and the intermittently-engaging conductors.

16. In combination, a Wheeled-turntable, a king-bolt around which saidtable rotates, a contact on said king-bolt embodying constantly-engagingconductors and intermittently-engaging conductors, circuit Wirescommunicating With the constantly-engag- 'ing conductors and a source ofsupply, circuit Wires communicating With said constantly-engagingconductors and the motor, and a lamp-circuit communicating With themotor circuit.

17. In combination, a Wheeled-turntable, a tubular king-bolt aroundWhich said turntable rotates, a contact on said king-bolt embodyingrotary and stationary conductors, circuit Wires communicating With asource of supply and said conductors, a mo tor carried by the turntableand geared thereto to rotate the same, and circuit Wires communicatingWith said motor and the contact conductors.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature, in the presence of twoWitnesses.

JOSEPH H. IVITTMANN.

\Vitnesses:

F. G. FISCHER, E. C. LILLIAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O.

